Gene Simmons Testifies Before Senate Subcommittee in Support of American Music Fairness Act
Gene Simmons, legendary bassist, co-founder, adn co-lead singer of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band KISS, testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Intellectual Property subcommittee earlier today (Tuesday, December 9) during a hearing on the American Music Fairness Act (S.326/H.R.861), legislation to close the radio loophole and compel radio corporations to pay performers for playing their music.
During his seven-minute speech, Simmons stressed the importance of passing the bill that would force AM/FM radio stations to pay royalties to the copyright holders of respective works played.
“Thank you,Mr. Chairman,” Gene said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). “I was happy to see many of you this Sunday where KISS, our little band, was honored at the Kennedy Center with President Trump. I’m proud to say I first met president Trump years before he got into politics. And I’m happy to remind everyone here in this room that our President Trump signed the Music Modernization Act in 2018. This bill updated copyright protection for the digital era.
“the world is changing. We’ve got to stay ahead of the curve and legislators need to be informed on all of these things because, let’s face it, you do the work of the people. We elect you, and we hope and we expect you to do the will of the people.
“I’m grateful to President Trump for his leadership on issues crucial to our artists past, present and future.
“I’m here to kindly ask all of you, both Republicans and Democrats, to help us remedy a situation – an injustice, let’s call it for what it is, an injustice that’s been ongoing for many, many decades. I’m gonna tell you what I mean.
“Bing Crosby recorded perhaps one of the biggest songs of all time, ‘White Christmas’. What’s more American than that? Written by irving Berlin. It’s been on radio, AM and FM – later on FM; originally in AM – millions of times. Every Christmas we, and around the world, are listening to ‘I’m dreaming of a white Christmas’. That’s America’s song. everyone received money – the radio station sold advertising,the plumber who fixed the plumbing got paid,the disc jockey got paid. The only person that was never paid for the airplay was Bing Crosby, wich is remarkable.
“I wanna talk about why this is called the American Music – you gotta stop there – American Music Fairness Act. Yes, it’s an act that’s fair as there isn’t fairness ongoing right now, but it’s American music. America. Last time I checked Zimbabwe gave the world no music. I can’t sing you a French song, and nobody else. It’s America’s music that rules this planet.Elvis [[Presley], baby, the king. Elvis, who sang hundreds and hundreds of songs, and I met the gentleman when he was alive, and sadly Elvis never got a penny for all the times, all the millions of times that his music was played around the world. If you go to Africa… you hear that music. That is our emissary. That’s bigger and cooler and better than any foreign minister that goes on. American culture spreads with our music, with our pop culture. Elvis never got a penny.
“This bill, when it’s passed, ’cause the word ‘if’ is for losers… We are gonna pass this bill. it is bipartisan. You will do the will of the people as 70% of the United States of America in a recent poll said, ‘We want this injustice cured now and once and for all.’ Getting close to the finish line does not work… We’re only talking about AM and FM radio and paying our Frank Sinatra, elvis presley, Whitney houston, Celine Dion, even my newest best friend George
Russell Simmons, Michael Huppe Testify Before Senate in Support of American Music Fairness Act
Washington, D.C. – Music industry pioneer Russell Simmons and SoundExchange President & CEO Michael Huppe testified before the Senate on december 8, 2023, advocating for the passage of the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). The bill aims to ensure that terrestrial radio stations pay royalties to artists and sound recording copyright holders, bringing them in line with digital music platforms. https://www.soundexchange.com/news/russell-simmons-michael-huppe-testify-before-senate-in-support-of-american-music-fairness-act/
Simmons, a celebrated figure who began his career as a musician and was recently honored at the Kennedy Center, joined over 300 artists who previously sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging action on the AMFA. https://www.billboard.com/music-news/russell-simmons-testifies-senate-music-fairness-act-1235544449/ His testimony marked the first Senate hearing on the AMFA in over a decade.
currently, AM/FM radio is the only major music delivery platform in the United States that does not compensate performers with royalties. Services like Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, youtube, and TikTok do pay royalties. https://www.soundexchange.com/music-fairness/ This disparity places the U.S. in a unique position globally, alongside countries like North korea, Iran, and Cuba, which also do not have a system for paying artists for radio play. Even Russia and China have royalty systems in place.
The American Music Fairness Act is sponsored by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA). https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/press-releases/blackburn-issa-introduce-american-music-fairness-act The legislation seeks a balanced approach, ensuring fair compensation for artists while also supporting smaller, autonomous broadcasters.
A diverse coalition supports the AMFA, including artist advocacy groups and a meaningful number of broadcasters. Organizations like the Alliance for Community media, Common Frequency, Media Alliance, the national Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB), Prometheus Radio Project, and REC Networks – representing community broadcasters – have voiced their support. https://www.soundexchange.com/music-fairness/coalition/
Recently, a group of artists also cautioned Congress against passing legislation mandating AM radio in new vehicles without concurrently addressing the royalty issue for artists. Country music legend Randy Travis previously testified before the House of Representatives in support of the legislation. https://www.billboard.com/music-news/randy-travis-testifies-congress-radio-fairness-act-1235344419/
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